The Harm of Centrifugal Pump Cavitation

The cavitation phenomenon of centrifugal pump is one of the common faults of centrifugal pump. Once cavitation occurs in the pump, its flow and head performance will not only decline, but also show obvious high noise and vibration. In serious cases, it will even interrupt the liquid flow in the pump and cannot work normally. Cavitation will also damage the flow passage components of the pump, and even affect the pipeline system. There are many reasons for cavitation, such as quality problems of centrifugal pump products, improper use of operators, etc. Before leaving the factory, the products will pass the quality inspection of multiple procedures, so the influence of human factors is greater. In the working state, the working environment and operating factors of centrifugal pumps account for the vast majority of the cavitation phenomenon of centrifugal pumps.

Cavitation will affect the normal operation of centrifugal pumps, causing many serious consequences.

The performance of centrifugal pump is reduced due to cavitation

Centrifugal pump transfers energy to the medium through the rotation of the impeller and converts it into the pressure energy of the medium. However, cavitation will seriously interfere with the energy transfer between the impeller and the liquid. When cavitation occurs, a large number of bubbles will be generated in the medium, which will block the impeller flow passage, and vortex will be generated locally, increasing the flow loss, reducing the pump flow, head and efficiency. In serious cases, it will also lead to flow interruption, making the centrifugal pump unable to work normally.

Cavitation will damage the overcurrent components

Among the flow passage components of centrifugal pump, the impeller is the part most affected by cavitation. When cavitation occurs, many small pits will gradually appear on the surface of metal materials, and then the pits will continue to develop and expand into honeycomb and groove shapes. In serious cases, perforation will occur, and even the impeller will break, seriously affecting the service life of the pump.

Noise and vibration of pump caused by cavitation

When cavitation occurs, high-frequency liquid collisions will produce various noises. In serious cases, the pump will emit crackling explosions, and at the same time, it will induce the vibration of the pump unit, which in turn will accelerate the generation and rupture of bubbles. When the frequency of liquid hammer is the same as the natural frequency of the pump unit, strong cavitation resonance will occur, which will rapidly increase the amplitude. At this time, if you want to protect the centrifugal pump from greater damage, you must immediately stop for inspection.
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